Multi-stroke fluid power actuator



Feb. 12, 1963 w. J. DE BEAUBIEN ETAL 3,077,186

MULTI-STROKE FLUID POWER CTUATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 19, 1961VACUUM SOURCE* |08 7- "o INVENToRs. l-' Wil/iam l deBeaub/en QnsBYJames/ F/af/ l 4 |02 RM SCURCE -/|03 The/'r Attorney VACUUM Feb. 12,1963 W. J. DE BEAUBIEN ETAL MULTI-STROKE FLUID POWER ACTUATOR FiledApril 19, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1NVENToRs- Will/Um l deBeaub/enBYla/mens H. Fla/f ORM 7' lle/'r Affomey United States Patent Ohlice3,977,186 Patented Feb. 12, 1953 3,677,186 MULTI-STROKE FLUD PWERACTUATR William I. De Beanbien, Birmingham, Mich., and lames H. Flatt,Anderson, Ind., assiguors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich.,a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 19, 1961, Ser. No. 1114,146 9`Claims. (Cl. 121-46) This invention relates to :duid power actuatorsand more particularly to a lluid power actuator that is capable ofdelivering a step-wise actuation oi a part to be moved.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a tluid poweractuator wherein an actuating rod is moved in steps by a pair ofshiftable piston means that are Connected by a lost motion connection.

Another object of this invention is to provide a multistroke actuatorthat includes a pair of vacuum units having their casings rigidlyconnected and their diaphragme connected by a lost motion connection.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fluid powermulti-stroke actuator that is simple in construction and economical tomanufacture.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, :reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention isclearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional View of a duid power actuator made in accordancewith this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to that of FIGURE l but showing one of thevacuum units that make up the fluid power actuator in a shiftedposition.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURES 1 and 2 but illustrating theposition of the parts of the iiuid power actuator in still anothershifted position.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of a modified fluid power actuator made inaccordance with this invention.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGURE 1, thereference numerals and 12 have been used to generally designate vacuumunits which form component parts of the fluid power actuator of thisinvention. The vacuum unit 1t) is made up ot metal casing parts 13 and14. The casing 14 has a portion I6 which is crimped over an annular rimof the casing 12 and which also serves to hold a diaphragm 17 in placewhich is located between the annular portions of the casings 13 and 14.The diaphragm 17 may be made of any suitable flexible material such asrubber and it is seen that this diaphragm carries a metal plate member18. The metal plate member 1S is secured to the diaphragm 17 by headingover a rod Zd as at 22. The heading over or the portion 22 also Servesto hold the actuating link 24 in place. It thus is seen that thediaphragrn I7 actually carries the plate 18, the rod 2d and theactuating link 24.

The actuating link 24 extends through an opening 2.6 formed in thecasing 14 and this casing has other openings so that the chamber 28deiined by the casing 14 and the diaphragm 17 will always be atatmospheric pressure. The link 24 is formed with a slot 36 whichreceives a pin 32 connected with a pivotally mounted damper valve 34.The damper valve 34 may be used for example to control the amount of aircoming into a motor vehicle through a conduit 36 and might be arrangedin other ways to accomplish this purpose. As an example of this, thedamper valve might be pivoted at its center and located within conduit36. The damper valve 34 is constantly urged to a closed position by thespring 38.

The casing part 13 and the diaphragm 17 form a chamber itl which can beconnected with a source of vacuum through the fitting 42. It is seenthat a rolling seal 44 formed of resilient material such as rubber isprovided which has an annular portion i6 fitting an opening in thecasing 13 and has another annular portion 43 which tightly tits within agroove 5l) formed in the rod 2d. It thus is seen that the chamber dii issubstantially air tight and that when vacuum is applied to the chamber40, the diaphragm 16 will be moved rightwardly in FIGURE 1 and willcarry the rod 20 and link 24 with it.

The second vacuum unit 12 includes casings S4 and 56 which are securedtogether as by crimping a portion 59 of casing 56 over the casing 54. Ascan be seen, this crimping also serves to secure the diaphragm 58 inplace` in the vacuum unit. The diaphragm 58 carries a metal plate member6d and an actuating link 62. The plate 6l? and actuating link 62 areheld to the diaphragm Sli by one or more rivets 65. The actuating link62 extendsv through an opening 64 formed in the casing member 56 andthis actuating link has an opening 66 which receives.

its connection with' atmosphere through the opening 64.-

The casing 56 may be provided with other openings which insure that thechamber 'itl is always at atmospheric pressure.

The vacuum units 10 and 12 are rigidly connected together by a pluralityof spacers '72 which are welded to the casing part 13 and which haveintegral threaded parts 74 upon which are threaded the nuts 76. It willof course be appreciated that other devices might be used to insure thatthe casings of the vacuum units 1t) and 12 are rigidly connectedtogether.

port by means of the threaded studs 78A and 86 which are fixed to thecasing 14.

It is seen from FIGURE l that the chamber 82 defined;` by diphragm 58and casing part 54 is air tight and is connected with litting 84 whichis to be connected with a siutable source of vacuum when it is desiredto actuateE 12. It, of course, is appreciated thaty vacuum to chamber 82Will cause theV the vacuum unit the application of diaphragm SS to moverightwardly in FIGURE 1.

If neither chamber itl nor chamber 82 of vacuum units 1t) and 12 areconnected with vacuum, the parts of the duid power actuator will be asshown in FIGURE 1. In other Words the spring 3S will return thediaphragms to the FIGURE 1 position and will cause the damper 34 to bein a closed position.

If vacuum is applied to the chamber S2, the diaphragm 58 will be shiftedrightwardly in FIGURE l to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2. Inmoving rightwardly, the link 62 is moved rightwardly and it will carrythe rod Ztl and diaphragm 17 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2.This will, of course, partially open the valve 34 and will give oneposition of actuation.

If the chamber 4? of vacuum unit 10 is connected with vacuum, thediaphragm 17 will move to the position illustrated in FIGURE 3. Thiswill, of course, open the valve 34 to a greater extent and during thisrightward movement it can be seen that the rod 20'Wil1 move relative tothe link 62.

It isA It can be seen that this forms a lost.

The apparatus illus-V trated in FIGURE 1 may be secured as a unitltoasup-Y emr/,iss

It can be seen from the foregoing that the vacuum units and 12 providetwo open positions for the damper valve 34, namely the FIGURE 2 and theFIGURE 3 positions. This, of course, makes it possible to control theinlet air coming in to a motor vehicle for heating and Ventilatingpurposes.

In order to illustrate how the vacuum units can be controlled in FIGURES1, 2 and 3, a valve device generally designated by reference numeral 86is shown. This valve device comprises a plate member 8S having ports 90and 92 which are connected respectively with conduits 9,4 and 96 thatare in turn connected with fittings 42 and 184. The plate 88 is alsoprovided with ports 98 and 100 which lead to atmosphere. A second plate102 is provided which has ports 104 and 106. Ports 104 and 106 areconnected with a source of Vacuum which is designated by referencenumeral 108. This source of vacuum may be the intake manifold of aninternal combustion engine where the fiuid power apparatus is used toactuate some device on a motor vehicle.

Fitted between the plates 88 and 102 is a shiftable valve member 110which has ports 112, 114, 116 and 118. It can be seen that in the FIGUREl position of the valve member 11), the ports 90 and 98 are connectedwith atmospheric ports 9S and 106. It therefore is seen that bothchambers 41B and 82 will be at atmospheric pressure so that the spring38 holds the valve 34 in a closed position.

If the Valve 11d is shifted to the FIGURE 2 position, it is seen thatthe port 116 now connects the ports 92 and 104 so that vacuum is appliedto the chamber 82 of vacuum unit 12. The chamber 40 still remains atatmospheric pressure due to the connection of ports 90 and 9Sjso thatthe diaphragm 58*v now moves to the FIGURE 2 position and thereforeopens the valve 34 to the FIG- URE 2 position.

If the valve 110 is now moved to the FIGURE 3 position, it is seen thatthe port 112 connects the ports 9d and 1115 so that vacuum is applied tothe chamber 40. This will cause the diaphragm 17 to move to the FIGURE 3position with the further actuation of the valve 34 to the FIGURE 3position.

If the valve is moved from the FIGURE 3 to the FIGUREV 2 position, thediaphragms 17 and 58 will be returned to their FIGURE 2 position. If thevalve is moved back to the FIGURE l position, all of the parts willreturn to the FIGURE 1 position.

Itv will, of course, be appreciated that other types of valves andvalving arrangements could be used with the fiuid power apparatus ofthis invention without departing from the spirit and scope of thisinvention.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURE 4, a modified fluid powerapparatus is illustrated. In FIG- URE 4, the parts Vof the two vacuumunits in many respects are identical with the parts of the vacuumillustrated in FIGURES l through 3 and where the parts are identical orVecptiivalent the same reference numerals have been used. The maindifference between the apparatus of FIGURE 4 and that illustrated inFIGURES 1 through 3"is that another air tight chamber 120 has beenprovided which may be connected with vacuum via the fitting 123. It isseen that in FIGURE 4, the actuating rod 2t) has a cylindrical extension122 formed with a groove 124. The groove 124 receives an annular part ofa boot or rolling seal 1,26 formed of resilient material. Thisrolling-seal 126 has an annular portion 128 which fits within an openingformed in the casing 14. The diaphragm 17 in addition to carrying themetal plate 18 also carries another metal plate 130. It can be seen fromthe foregoing that the chamber 120 which corresponds to chamber 28 ofthe apparatus illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 3, has been arranged so thatit no longer is connected with atmosphere but rather can be connectedwith vacuum through the fitting 125.

In FIGURE 4, the parts diaphragms of the vacuum units 10 and 12 may bereturned to their position illustrated in FIGURE 4 by the application ofvacuum to the chamber 12d. This is the difference between the apparatusillustrated in FIGURE 4 and that illustrated in FIG- URES l through 3.In order to provide for the application of vacuum to the chamber 12), aslightly modified valve apparatus is illustrated in FIGURE 4. The rightside of this Valve apparatus is identical to the Valve apparatusillustrated in FIGURES 1 through 3 but additional ports 132, 134, 136,138 and 14() have been added. Thus, in the FIGURE 4 position of theshiftable valve 111i, i-t can be seen that the chamber 120 will beconnected to vacuum via ports 132, 13S and 14d` together with theconnecting conduit 142. As the valve 119 is shifted rightwardly where itcorresponds to the position of the valve illustrated in FIGURE 2, it isseen that the conduit 142 will be connected with atmosphere via theatmospheric port 134. When the valve moves still further rightwardlywhere it corresponds to the FIGURE 3 valve position, the conduit 142 isstill connected with atmosphere so that the chamber 121i will beconnected with atmosphere. In other words, with the arrangement ofFIGURE 4, the chamber 126 is always connected with atmosphere exceptwhen it is desired to return the diaphragms to their FIGURE 4 positionwhereupon the chamber is connected with vacuum.

In FIGURE 4, a different reference numeral 144 has been used todesignate the spring that returns the valve 34 to its closed position.This spring 144 may have a force that is considerably less than theforce of spring 3S since the diaphragms of the vacuum units are returnedto the FIGURE 4 position by the application of vacuum to chamber 12d.

While the embodiments of the invention as herein disclosed constitute apreferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might beadopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A multi-stroke actuator comprising, a first chamber defined by afirst diaphragm and a first casing, a second chamber defined by a seconddiaphragm and a second casing, said first and second diaphragms movingin the same direction when either said first or second chamber isconnected with vacuum, said rst casing having a Wall limiting themovement of said first diaphragm in one direction, said second casinghaving a wall limiting the movement of said second diaphragm in the samedirection, means rigidly connecting said casings, an actuating meansconnected with said first diaphragm, and a lost motion connectionconnecting said first diaphragm and said second diaphragm, said lostmotion connection permitting a movement of said rst diaphragm relativeto said second diaphragm when said second diaphragm has moved to itslimit of movement.

2. A multi-stroke actuator comprising, a first vacuum unit including afirst casing means and a first diaphragm dividing said first casingmeans into a first Vacuum chamber and a first atmospheric chamber whichis permanently connected with atmosphere, a second vacuum unit includingsecond casing means and a second diaphragm dividing said second casingmeans into a second vacuum chamber and a second atmospheric chamberwhich is permanently connected with atmosphere, means rigidly connectingsaid first and second casing means together, said first and secondvacuum chambers being so positioned that said diaphragms move in thesame direction when either of said vacuum chambers is connected withvacuum, and a lost motion connection directly mechanically connectingsaid first and second diaphragms.

3. A multi-stroke actuator comprising, a first chamber dened by a firstdiaphragm and a first casing, a second chamber defined by a seconddiaphragm and a second casing, said diaphragms moving in the samedirection when either of said chambers is connected with vacuum, saidsecond casing having a wall limiting the movement of said seconddiaphragm in one direction, means rigidly i' il connecting said casings,and a motion transmitting means directly connecting said iirst andsecond diaphragms, said motion transmitting means permitting a movementof said first diaphragm relative to said second diaphragm when saidsecond diaphragm has moved to its limit of movement.

4. A multi-stroke actuator comprising, a irst chamber defined by a rstdiaphragm and a first casing, a second chamber defined by a seconddiaphragm and a second casing, means rigidly connecting said casings,means limiting movement of said second diaphragm in one direction, andmotion transmitting means directly connecting Asaid first and seconddiaphragms, said motion transmitting means being so constructed andarranged that said second diaphragm pulls said first diaphragm apredetermined amount when said second chamber is connected with vacuumand being constructed and arranged to permit said iirst diaphragm tomove relative to said second diaphragm when said second diaphragm hasreached its limit of movement.

5. A multi-stroke actuator comprising, a tirst vacuum unit having firstcasing means and a first diaphragm dividing said first casing means intoa first vacuum chamber and an atmospheric chamber which is permanentlycon nected with atmosphere, a second vacuum unit having second casingmeans and a second diaphragm dividing said second casing means into asecond vacuum chamber and an atmospheric chamber which is permanentlycorinected with atmosphere, -said vacuum chambers being so positionedwith respect to each other that said diaphragms move in the samedirection when vacuum is applied to either of said vacuum chambers,means rigidly securing said iirst and second casing means together,actuating means connected with said rst diaphragm for shifting a part tobe actuated, and motion transmitting means connecting said first andsecond diaphragms, said motion transmitting means causing said iirstdiaphragm and its connected actuating means to be positively shifted bythe movement of said second diaphragm when said second vacuum chamber isconnected with vacuum, said motion transmitting means permitting saidlirst diaphragm and its connected actuating means to move relative t0said second diaphragm when first vacuum chamber is connected withvacuum.

6. Actuating apparatus comprising, a rst vacuum unit including casingmeans and a diaphragm separating said iirst vacuum unit into first andsecond sealed chambers, a second vacuum unit including casing means anda second diaphragm dividing said casing means into third and fourthchambers, said third chamber being sealed and said fourth chamber beingpermanently connected with atmosphere, a lost motion connectionconnecting the diaphragrns of said two vacuum units, means forselectively connecting said tirst and second chambers with vacuum orwith atmosphere, and means for connecting said third chamber selectivelywith vacuum or atmosphere.

7. Actuating apparatus comprising, a first vacuum unit including casingmeans and a diaphragm separating said vacuum unit into first and secondchambers that are to be connected respectively with vacuum, a secondvacuum unit including casing means and a second diaphragm dividing saidcasing means into third and fourth chambers, said third chamber beingadapted to be connected with vacuum and said fourth chamber beingconnected permanently with atmosphere, and a lost motion connectioninterconnecting the diaphragms of two vacuum units.

8. Actuating apparatus comprising, first and second vacuum units eachhaving casing means and a diaphragm, the casing means and diaphragm ofsaid vacuum units deiining first and second separate chambers, meansrigidly connecting the casing means of said vacuum units together, alost motion connection connecting the diaphragms of said vacuum units,and means for selectively applying vacuum to said chambers.

9. Actuating apparatu-s comprising, a first vacuum unit including firstcasing means and a iirst diaphragm, a second vacuum unit includingsecond casing means and a second diaphragm, means rigidly connectingsaid iirst and second casing means, the first diaphragm and rst casingmeans of said iirst vacuum unit defining a rst chamber and the secondcasing means and second diaphragm of said second vacuum unit defining asecond chamber, means for selectively connecting said chambers withvacuum, and means connecting said diaphragms whereby movement of saidsecond diaphragm causes said first diaphragm to move therewith andmovement of said first diaphragm causes a relative motion between saiddiaphragme.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,879,365 Lombard Sept. 27, 1932 2,367,852 Eaton Jan. 23, 1945 2,809,708Edwards Oct. 15, 1957 2,882,760 Leiter Apr. 21, 1959 2,986,125 Young etal May 30, 1961

1. A MULTI-STROKE ACTUATOR COMPRISING, A FIRST CHAMBER DEFINED BY AFIRST DIAPHRAGM AND A FIRST CASING, A SECOND CHAMBER DEFINED BY A SECONDDIAPHRAGM AND A SECOND CASING, SAID FIRST AND SECOND DIAPHRAGMS MOVINGIN THE SAME DIRECTION WHEN EITHER SAID FIRST OR SECOND CHAMBER ISCONNECTED WITH VACUUM, SAID FIRST CASING HAVING A WALL LIMITING THEMOVEMENT OF SAID FIRST DIAPHRAGM IN ONE DIRECTION, SAID SECOND CASINGHAVING A WALL LIMITING THE MOVEMENT OF SAID SECOND DIAPHRAGM IN THE SAMEDIRECTION, MEANS RIGIDLY CONNECTING SAID CASINGS, AN ACTUATING MEANSCONNECTED WITH SAID FIRST DIAPHRAGM, AND A LOST MOTION CONNECTIONCONNECDTING SAID FIRST DIAPHRAGM AND SAID SECOND DIAPHRAGM, SAID LOSTMOTION CONNECTION PERMITTING A MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRST DIAPHRAGM RELATIVETO SAID SECOND DIAPHRAGM WHEN SAID SECOND DIAPHRAGM HAS MOVED TO ITSLIMIT OF MOVEMENT.